Bengals bring back Maualuga

[alleycat]

Wilcotts was just on Path to the Draft, and thought we'd go with Fluker if we didn't sign Smith - an outcome I hope we can avoid.  He did mention the above-referenced notion that Rey would move to SLB.

 

More interestingly, though, were the two talking heads who mocked our first three picks after:

 

21) Ogeltree at WLB

37) Cyprien at S

53) Jonathan Franklin at RB

[Bengal27]

No. Only a bunch of message board blowhards who probably live in their moms basement and play fantasy football hate him.

Get over your stupid hatred take some midol for your PMS.

Except AlleyCat, he is a rich well known celebrity.

[Tigris]

Why would Marvin tip his draft hand? I'd send mix signals out there too.

[Bengal27]

 
 
Your whining about them whining is just as bad

Uh oh, here goes the trolling blowhard.

[starkesn]

Wilcotts was just on Path to the Draft, and thought we'd go with Fluker if we didn't sign Smith - an outcome I hope we can avoid.  He did mention the above-referenced notion that Rey would move to SLB.

 

More interestingly, though, were the two talking heads who mocked our first three picks after:

 

21) Ogeltree at WLB

37) Cyprien at S

53) Jonathan Franklin at RB

 

Agree with Cyprien and Franklin, but feel Brown is a better option for us at WLB and doesn't have the baggage.

[bubba]

 
There's always some lighning rod on defense - Clemons, Justin Smith, Crocker last year that the board goes off on.

I agree with your post. But also acknowledge a handful on this board are ( toe the company line ) men. And every move is correct & supported because the Bengals made it. They are professionals so it must be the correct move.

[Bengals1181]

The Bengals added some tread to their youthful linebacking corps Monday when they announced the re-signing of Rey Maualuga and made him the club's most seasoned player at the position.

Rey Maualuga

Updated: 5:50 p.m.

PHOENIX, Ariz. _ The Bengals added some tread to their youthful linebacking corps Monday when they announced they re-signed Rey Maualuga and made him their most seasoned player at the position.

Maualuga made only one visit during free agency, but talking to him Monday on a conference call it sounded like his heart wasn't in the trip to Arizona.

"It was totally something I've always wanted. I've always wanted to come back. It just feels right," Maualuga said. "The biggest thing is coming back to Cincinnati. Everyone is remembered by their last game and I felt like I want to come back and re-identify myself and make me better."

The Bengals are spending this week trying to make sure they're keeping most of the  regulars from a defense that finished sixth in the league last year. Starting cornnerback Terence Newman confirmed via Twitter Monday that his agent Ben Dogra, is speaking to both the Bengals and the Raiders before he makes a decision that he said would come at the end of the week. They are also hoping to secure third corner Adamm Jones in the nnext few days.

 

In three of Maualuga's four seasons with the club, the Bengals have finished with a top 10 overall defense and he'd like to keep iit going.

"With the group of guys that we’ve got we’ve got something good going and people always say ‘Why break it up?’" he said. "Hopefully with the couple of guys coming back it’ll mean more guys signing and coming back and we can get to the playoffs and win in the first round, win the second and third and eventually make it to the Super Bowl. I’m very excited. I think everyone is excited as well coming back knowing that we’ve got a big run at it and we’ve just got to keep working hard from here on out." 
  

After starting 29 games the last two seasons at middle linebacker, he may be headed back to SAM backer at the spot he played his first two seasons when he started 30 games. Vontaze Burfict, a middle linebacker, is coming off a rookie season he started 14 games at WILL backer but showed why he is considered a natural Mike with 174 tackles.

The 6-2, 242-pound Maualuga's down-hill strength against the run would be a boon at the SAM spot. The coaches, led by the linebackers' Paul Guenther, haven't tipped their hands on what the lineup is going to be but they have wanted Maualuga to return. In fact, Maualuga said the coaches told him things could stay the same with him in the middle at Mike Backer and Burfict at WILL.

"They both feel comfortable. I would prefer to play MIKE. It just felt right and I think I know the defense in and out," Maualuga said. "Where ever I can play best to help the team. That's definitely what I want to do.  If it's SAM, I wouldn't mind playing SAM. If it's Mike, then I'll be the best Mike linebacker I can be."

Maualuga, a second-round pick out of USC in 2009, is talking about cleaning up what he calls "unfinished business," after a season he has taken withering criticism from fans for his pass coverage and missed tackles and a last-in-the league ranking  among NFL inside linebackers by the web site ProFootballTalk.com.

"Rey is a big, physical guy who plays with a lot of passion and energy," Guenther said. "He knows the defense and he can play a couple of different spots and that's going to give us some flexibility as well as some experience in our room."

But he knows his biggest supporters are his coaches - head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordnator Mike Zimmer - as well as Bengals president Mike Brown.

"The relationship that I’ve got with these guys, the coaches, is mind-boggling," Maualuga said. "It’s crazy. I’m talking to these guys after the season, making sure that I’m all right, keeping my head up, enjoying the process but at the same time knowing that they wanted me back and that I can only get better if I stayed in Cincinnati. It means a lot that they think of me that way and I’m just going to give it everything I’ve got for these guys.

"I doubt if Coach Zimmer or Marvin didn’t want me back that they would have asked me to come back. So I’m just happy for the opportunity and grateful I’m employed and come back and try to win as many games as I can for Cincinnati," he said.

"I talked to (Zimmer) earlier about coming back and how he felt and he’s just as excited as I am to come back and knowing that if I had left, the guys would miss me. Just knowing I have the support and that he’s in my corner means everything."

Maualuga hasn't narrowed down what he needs to improve.

"Everything. I think it can only get better," he said. "My pass coverage. My tackling. Making sure I get to the ball carrier and get him down. I think every aspect of my game has to get better. I’m just going to going for it and going at it and hopefully the coach, Paul Guenther, can make me into the linebacker that I know I can become."

He is taking the next step by enrolling with MMA fight guru Jay Glazier in grueling double sessions that began at the Athletic Gaines facility in Los Angeles. Maualuga works with Glazier in the cage from 9-10:15 a.m., takes a break with a massage, and then does his field work, running and lifting from 10:30-11:30.

"As far as my hand movements, making sure you’re quick with your hands and getting off blocks and things like that," Maualuga said. "My stamina, making sure I can play all four quarters. Things of that nature. I’m making sure that I’m well-conditioned in the fourth quarter when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of the game that I can be in there well energized at the end of the game. He’s been doing a great job at it. He’s been working with some big-time name guys and I’m just another guy in there just trying to get better and help to improve my overall game."

Glazier, who doubles as a NFL media maven, is here at the NFL annual spring meetings.

"How many guys are doing double sessions in March?" Glazier asked this past weekend. "He's picked up some things faster than anybody ever has. The guy's a freak when it comes to being an athlete. Part of what we do is to try to instill a fighter's mentality. But he's already got that. He already thinks like that. The guy is a warrior."

What Glazier has Maualuga working on is leverage while  educating him on how the body moves in tight, wrestling quarters. Glazier has Maualuga matched with fighters as well as himself and doing such moves as double leg takedowns to give him the feel.

"We're doing a ton of Greco Roman wrestling trying to get him to lower his body level and get him used to different bodies working against him," Glazier said. "We're also working on violent hand fighting."

But Glazier says the biggest thing is working on   conditioning. He says the core idea of his training is to get players ready for the fourth quarter.

"You look at the guy across from you and you're thinking, 'I've already done worse things in MMA training," Glazier said. "He works extremely hard. He's losing six pounds a session with me."

It is all a part of Maualuga trying to rebuild from the disappointing Wild Card loss in Houston in which running back Arian Foster pierced them for 140 yards.

"As far as not being satisfied. I had like (152) tackles, but I know I’m a way better player than that. Unfinished business as in I know I’ve got a lot of football in me left," Maualuga said. "I know that there’s still room for improvement. I’m not happy with how I performed, and everybody knows that. Hopefully by coming back I can erase all the doubters and people that are saying I can’t do this and do that, so hey, why not?"

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Maualuga-eyes-unfinished-business/383ea8be-953a-432b-bcff-3b275a94aaa0

[Oldcat]

I agree with your post. But also acknowledge a handful on this board are ( toe the company line ) men. And every move is correct & supported because the Bengals made it. They are professionals so it must be the correct move.

 

Well the coaches may be right at times or wrong at times, but their opinions are what makes the team do what they do so they have to be taken into account.  Given a choice I'd have to lean towards that, especially since our coaches admit they make mistakes. 

 

Now, a web site that rates a team with a top 10 defense to have the worst MLB in league history might have some explaining to do itself, but I haven't heard them try.   This has soured me on more than one of these advanced stats sites.

[B.A.B.]

I think you're confusing people on the internet for a city

Next time you're out, ask a random person wearing Bengals attire what they think of Maualuga's game. Seriously, do it.

[Khatmandude]

Next time you're out, ask a random person wearing Bengals attire what they think of Maualuga's game. Seriously, do it.

 

No, I think he has the pulse of Cincinnati from where he lives, which is not Cincinnati. 

[Bengals1181]

Lance McAlister ‏@LanceMcAlister

So much for in Zim you trust. Thought everyone wanted him as coach. Yet, you disagree with him on Rey? Confused.

[Bengals1181]

Lance McAlister ‏@LanceMcAlister

Zimmer really is the the kind to sugar coat things on players....yea....ok ....#Bengals

[T-Dub]

God what a troll.. I think Zimmer is a great coach, that doesn't mean he's fucking infallible and can never be questioned. Rey was the weak link in that defense. The coaches know it, the fans know it, Rey knows it and every opponent we face sure as shit knows it.

I'm not totally against him returning in some capacity but let's not pretend like it makes him the lynchpin of the defense that we're all just too dumb to recognize.

Daugherty and Lance are two turds circling the same drain.

[happyrid]

Hobnob misspelled Glazer about 15 times in that article.

[sois]

Rey will probly be the SLB, despite what Marvin is saying now.  And that's ok.  He is better there.  

 

Arthur Brown - Burfict - Rey would be awesome with Howard - Rey - Moch on the bench

[wkuredbengal34]

Rey Maualuga fucking sucks at football and if you cant watch a game and realize that, then you are an idiot. How many times in the past 3 years have we seen him completely whiff on a RB in the open field or be completely inept at stopping an option route from an opposing RB? The best hitting he does is parked cars in Newport.

 

We had the most cap room to spend in the entire LEAGUE and don't do shit! I'm not asking to blow 30 million dollars, all I am asking is to upgrade a position or two whether that be ILB or Safety. Maualuga will flat out get you beat and we just gave him 6 million dollars. 

 

Being a Kentucky Wildcats and Cincinnati Bengals football fan is going to make me die an early death.

[|kennethmw|]

God what a troll.. I think Zimmer is a great coach, that doesn't mean he's fucking infallible and can never be questioned. Rey was the weak link in that defense. The coaches know it, the fans know it, Rey knows it and every opponent we face sure as shit knows it.

I'm not totally against him returning in some capacity but let's not pretend like it makes him the lynchpin of the defense that we're all just too dumb to recognize.

Daugherty and Lance are two turds circling the same drain.

 

T-dub you're totally entitled to your opinion.  But, Lance is right.  Zimmer told you all offseason that he wanted Rey back, Marvin told you that he wanted Rey back, but all of you ran your little delusional view that it was coach speak, and they really didn't, simply because you didn't.  Now he's back and you're all whining, and saying that those of us that believed what they said are saying Rey is some all-pro.  Nobody in my view has said that.  They simply said he wasn't the biggest concern.  Now, once again, he was the weak link on the D, but for some reason, they never tried to replace him and in fact, made him the D captain.  Reality and perception just don't match. 

[Khatmandude]

God what a troll.. I think Zimmer is a great coach, that doesn't mean he's fucking infallible and can never be questioned. Rey was the weak link in that defense. The coaches know it, the fans know it, Rey knows it and every opponent we face sure as shit knows it.

I'm not totally against him returning in some capacity but let's not pretend like it makes him the lynchpin of the defense that we're all just too dumb to recognize.

Daugherty and Lance are two turds circling the same drain.

 

Hahahaha....and I agree. 

 

Rey will probly be the SLB, despite what Marvin is saying now.  And that's ok.  He is better there.  

 

Arthur Brown - Burfict - Rey would be awesome with Howard - Rey - Moch on the bench

 

A renewed Rey, in terms of mental state/focus I can get behind starting....but the player we saw last year, no.  No way. 

[happyrid]

Rey will probly be the SLB, despite what Marvin is saying now.  And that's ok.  He is better there.  
 
Arthur Brown - Burfict - Rey would be awesome with Howard - Rey - Moch on the bench

Looks good except I think Emmanuel Lamur is far ahead of guys like Moch and Rey. I think he will definitely be one of the top 5 LBers. He got some playing time in some really important situations last year down the stretch against the Steelers and Texans. I think the Bengals will give him a shot at competing for a starting job. At the very least, I think he is a roster lock.

[|kennethmw|]

Rey Maualuga fucking sucks at football and if you cant watch a game and realize that, then you are an idiot. How many times in the past 3 years have we seen him completely whiff on a RB in the open field or be completely inept at stopping an option route from an opposing RB? The best hitting he does is parked cars in Newport.

 

We had the most cap room to spend in the entire LEAGUE and don't do shit! I'm not asking to blow 30 million dollars, all I am asking is to upgrade a position or two whether that be ILB or Safety. Maualuga will flat out get you beat and we just gave him 6 million dollars. 

 

Being a Kentucky Wildcats and Cincinnati Bengals football fan is going to make me die an early death.

 

Man, they have douche so you can get the sand out of your VJ.

[wkuredbengal34]

Grade from Walterfootball.com on the signing.

 

Bengals re-sign ILB Rey Maualuga (2 years, $6.5M; $2.5M guaranteed): MILLEN FILLS OUT HIS NCAA BRACKET BASED ON KIELBASA SIZE Grade
Rey Maualuga was the worst starting middle linebacker in football last year. He was the WORST, and it wasn't even close. He spent his time missing tons of tackles, blowing coverages and getting washed away in run support. He's nothing more than a mediocre backup in the NFL, so I'm pretty shocked that he received a $6.5 million contract from the Bengals. He didn't deserve anything more than the minimum.

Maualuga might be better if they move him back to strongside linebacker, but this is way too much money to give to a two-down player who has sucked the past couple of seasons.

 

If you dont understand the Millen comment, who was arguably the worst GM ever, they give the signing an F- because they can watch a friggin game and tell who sucks.

[wkuredbengal34]

Man, they have douche so you can get the sand out of your VJ.

Very cool. If you dont realize this is a terrible signing and waste of money, I highly question your IQ.

 

And the comment was obviously a joke. Just saying this was not money well spent, its terrible.

[wkuredbengal34]

Hahahaha....and I agree. 

 

 

A renewed Rey, in terms of mental state/focus I can get behind starting....but the player we saw last year, no.  No way. 

 

Not trying to be a dick, but seriously how many times have we heard this highly focused new mental state Rey? I know we've heard it for a few years now, when you are slow as all get out, have hips stiffer than a wedding dick plus terrible instincts, I don't care how focused you are, it aint gonna help.

[Khatmandude]

T-dub you're totally entitled to your opinion.  But, Lance is right.  Zimmer told you all offseason that he wanted Rey back, Marvin told you that he wanted Rey back, but all of you ran your little delusional view that it was coach speak, and they really didn't, simply because you didn't.  Now he's back and you're all whining, and saying that those of us that believed what they said are saying Rey is some all-pro.  Nobody in my view has said that.  They simply said he wasn't the biggest concern.  Now, once again, he was the weak link on the D, but for some reason, they never tried to replace him and in fact, made him the D captain.  Reality and perception just don't match. 

 

If he wasn't the weak link on D, how do you explain Houston's game plan in the playoffs?  How do you explain his play last year in particular?  If Marvin pissed on your leg and told you it was raining you'd thank the heavens for the rain. 

 

Has a coach ever been wrong before in your opinion?  What about Marvin in particular with player personnel issues?  Just because they brought him back doesn't validate your deluded view that he's a good LB, or has played like a good LB. 

[T-Dub]

T-dub you're totally entitled to your opinion.  But, Lance is right.

 

 

Right about what? All he said is that people are wrong for daring to question Zimmer.

 

Which, again, is horseshit. 

 

Wow.. I'm responding to Kenneth. My bad, I should know better than that by now. And about something Lance fuckin' McTrolldick said on twitter, no less.  It's like arguing with a sock puppet.